Some users just like really tiny keyboards. Personally I am an ergonomic fan, so the wider my hands can be apart, the better. For those who like tiny keyboards (programmers love them for some odd reason), then you’ll be glad to know that there’s finally one that’s built like a tank: the Enermax Aurora Micro. This review was actually written using this keyboard entirely, in addition to some all-day testing.
At first look, the keyboard is very attractive. While the bottom of the keyboard is a sturdy plastic, the top frame is brushed aluminum, which has been anodized pitch black. On the left and right sides of the keyboard are single USB 2.0 ports, for a total of two expansion slots. These can easily be used to plug in a USB drive, mouse, or other peripheral. The keyboard’s cable is of adequate length and rather thick for a keyboard.
Features
- Brushed aluminum with diamond cut edges:the utmost in keyboard design
- Windows Vista support:integrated Windows Vista Start Button
- 6 Office Hotkeys:integrated 6 Hot Keys(Open+ Save+ Print+ Cut+ Copy+ Paste)
- 6 dedicated Internet Hotkeys:Back + Forward+ Search+ Home+ My Favorite +Mail
- “SCISSORS” key switch technology (patented):the most comfortable & responsive typing experience available today
- 10 million keystroke lifespan: built for years
- 2 high speed USB2.0 ports:for maximum connectivity right on your desk
- 3 height level rubbered stands:decide your perfect height for the best typing experience ever
- Extended wrist rest:reducing typing stress & typing errors, while increasing comfort to your wrists
- Industrial design & components:world leading engineering quality and lifetime
- Everlasting key top printing:no bleaching out of key caps possible
- Zero degree angle:increasing your typing experience
- Flat key caps:shortest typing distance
- Ultra flat profile:minimum height design
- 0.8kgs/ 1.76lbs heavy: it won’t move while typing
- Instant connection: no driver necessary
- 320mm (L) x 183mm (W) x 26mm (H)
- 1.76lbs
The layout is pretty good for a micro keyboard, so if you are used to small keyboards then you will be right at home. This keyboard is obviously geared towards Office users, as a row of special office macro keys are across the top, above the Function keys. They are Open folder, Save, Print, Cut, Copy, Paste. To the right of these keys (in the center top of the keyboard) are the numlock, caplock, and scroll lock LED indicators, which are bright blue and hard to miss. To the right of this little LED bank are web macro keys: Back, Forward, Search, Home, Favorite, and Email. To my amazement, these macro keys worked right out of the box without any drivers.
The Function keys appear on the top row, followed by Print Screen, Pause, Insert and Delete keys. The Home and End keys should have appeared in this bank, in my opinion, as many people navigate to the beginning and end of sentences using these keys. Instead, these crucial navigation keys have been located on the arrow keys, and can only be accessed by holding down the Fn key.
Also of note on this keyboard layout is the location of the backspace, Enter, and slash keys. The backslash key is frequently used in today’s world, thanks to the World Wide Web. Many people look for a backslash key above the Enter key, but both slashes have been moved to the left of the Alternate Shift key. Since you can’t reach the Enter key easily (even with your pinky), it doesn’t make sense as to why it is so large.
When I first plugged the keyboard in, the Numlock key was on by default… and since this is a micro keyboard, the number pad is duplicated on many letter keys on the right side of the keyboard. The only way to toggle this function is by holding down the Fn key to toggle F11 and F12 into NumLock and Scroll Lock.
The integrated USB 2.0 ports worked just fine. To test the throughput, I copied some large files from a few USB drives, and the throughput was the same both with and without the keyboard.
I also noticed that I had to reach a lot further for some special keys. Normal typing using the letter keys is very quick and lets me enjoy the great feel that this keyboard has. Unfortunately the cramped space of this keyboard makes me press a lot of keys accidentally, which sends me searching for the Backspace key. Normally I use my right ring finger, but the only way to reach it on the Aurora is to use my pinky.
Since the keyboard frame is aluminum, it feels very cool to the touch, and my wrists never felt sweaty at all. Key travel is very short, much like a laptop keyboard, so your fingers never have to move very far, except when you’re hunting down those special keys. The keys feel extremely solid , and the entire keyboard has good weight to it… almost as much as a full-sized keyboard.
I lost much of this article because of this keyboard. It is very easy to accidentally hit the wrong key, which I did on several occasions, which sent my browser Back, losing my unsaved paragraphs.
Regardless of my layout gripes, the keyboard has a very solid feel, and the keys feel very comfortable. If you are comfortable typing on a micro keyboard then you may be very satisfied with the Enermax Aurora Micro keyboard, as it’s built like a tank, and feels like one, too.
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1 Comment
I love the look, feel and size of this keyboard, but they chose to make the layout of keys nonstandard – they put the key with the | and where the right shift key should be. I touch type, and every time I attempt to type a capital letter on the left side of the keyboard, I hit the key instead of the shift key. It was so frustrating for me, I stopped using the keyboard.